Disbabled Christians | SermonIndex

sermonindex Jun 16, 2011

As a Disabled Christian I find the group that hurts disabled Christians the most is the church. The church hurts disabled Christians more then any other group and its very sad. The purpose of this blog is to raise awareness of issues faced by disabled Christians

This is part of the intro at disabledchristians.com and my experience has shown it to be the truth.

Just want to make people aware of this site in case there are any other disabled people here besides me. If you are disabled you know how frustrating it can be when christians judge you for not being able to make it to church, acting like they think they know your medical history when they don't know a thing about you, and so on.

Here is an example from one man of the help that some disabled Christians need:

i was hurt at work and i have a family. i watch church programs at home because pain prevents a me from attending my wifes church. i own my home, but it leaks badly, cabinets are falling apart and weatherazation needs done. on my fixed income it is impossible to fix repairs. i pray everyday for God to intervien and help me. i do as much as i can to keep repairs as much as i can. i am legally disabled and only 38. if you know of anyone that can help, i pray God will lay it on their heart to help. weather or not you can help, may God bless

Disabled people such as this one are cut off from the family of God and often have no access to help. They may need rides to the doctors, groceries, and so forth. A ministry opportunity exists here but i have never known of any church that rises to the occasion. There may only be select individuals that know about such people connected to their congregation (or not).

E

enid Jun 16, 2011

It seems that we are looking at two,or maybe three different things here.

I thought it was saying that churches don't want disabled people in them, at first.

However, it seems that what is being said, is that those who are disabled need help with finances, repairs etc, and the churches they attend are failing to address the need.

Have they asked for help? Have they invited people around to see how they live, and in seeing how they live, can seek to get help to address those needs?

Sometimes, people can be afraid of being seen as nosey or interfering, so they leave it alone.

There is always more than one way of looking at an issue.

But, in keeping with scripture, we should not neglect our brothers and sisters in Christ, whatever the need.

God bless.

S

StarofG0D Jun 16, 2011

Sister, I have thought about this often as of late. Moreso, especially after coming across Joni Earekson Tada's website. She goes above and beyond trying to make her website accessible to those with disabilities. It is interesting, and something we overlook. I do apologize for that. I used to work with a girl with cerebral palsy who was in a motorized wheelchair, and I would often try to get her to come to church. But it was often a trial due to the motorized wheelchair, because it would not go in my car, and her parents would not always allow her to take the van. And public transportation did not run on sundays. And then there were things like some churches have "steps" and the list goes on. It is difficult.

So, just sharing some condolences my sister. It is something the rest of us should become more aware of. Thanks for your post.

sermonindex Jun 16, 2011

Here's a good ministry that's affiliated with Joni & Friends.

Under "Support" you'll find the "Sunroom".

http://restministries.com/

Lots of good things there and daily email devotionals written by those afflicted.

Amy Carmichael was "disabled" as well - just for one.

This ministry also has programs that Churches can start up for the disabled in their area to help meet needs and form Support Groups, etc.

If you live in an area with multiple Churches - you can call those Churches and ask if they'd be interested in forming a Volunteer-Help Group, specifically for your own town only. The NewsPaper will run it under Community events if you put a name to it. Like "Volun-Care" for instance.
You can make up nice flyers on a computer and post them at the Post Office and Stores, stating that the mission is to "Care for our Neighbors" and giving a contact number for willing volunteers.
Also to put in bold somewhere - "IF EACH TOWN CARED FOR THEIR OWN - IMAGINE WHAT COULD HAPPEN".
I did this in one State that I lived in. Getting volunteers is hard and that part is sad - but the few who do step-up to the plate are a blessing. We mainly helped Seniors to do things around their homes that they couldn't physically do themselves - which made it possible to stay living in their own homes and would help any disabled folks.
All it takes is one person with a telephone to call all the Pastors in town to get their reaction to such an Organization in their own town and then call the Newspaper and say - this is the Name of the Town's Volunteer Help Group and if anyone wants to volunteer - contact _________ .
The volunteers don't have to be Christian neither - but the Group should never except money.

Just some ideas. Been on the giving and receiving end of help - so my heart is there with the elderly and the disabled - but never forget that just one person could turn a town upside down - or even an entire State.

Blessings!

C

carters Jun 18, 2011

Hi there,

I would love to offer you encouragement.

I am not significantly disabled but I have suffered from permanent problems with my pelvis due to my pregnancy with our daughter. I can completely relate to not being able to go to church and struggling with being able to do basic things at home.

I was very discouraged and if I am honest actually angry at God for many years because I was not healed.

I had a very wrong expectation of God, I was in a health, wealth & prosperity church at the time and when I wasn't healed they sort of left you and you were made to feel like there was something wrong with you because I wasn't healed.

BUT 6 years later...I have learnt that I have grown so much more in my faith because of my disability. I have had to humble myself through having to ask for help for basic things, we had to move to humbler house, downsize etc, move country LOL. BUT what I learnt is that God will sometimes bring you to a place where you are completely reliant upon Him, those of us that suffer with pain or disablity know this place well.

One thing that really encouaged me was blogging about how God has impacted your life - there may be something in your life and with God has done in your life that you may be able to encourage others with - blogging is a good form of ministry.

You can get really good sermons through podcasts nowadays, if you have a good internet you can also belong to group church online - just look for the groups, or not be too stressed out if you don't make it to the exact church you are expecting to go to. God can minister to you wherever you are, He just wants your heart.

Another is focusing on the eternal. Getting an eternal perspective. Rejoice in our sufferings that we are like Christ in how He suffered too. Christ really knows what we are going through. The humiliation, the pain... This life is short, we won't be here long, let us do everything we can right now to be 100% right with the Lord and full of joy, peace, patience, graciouness, gentleness so that when we meet people who are non-Christians they will be vlown away by the change they see on our lives and the change from the work of the Holy Spirit. It doesn't matter what and where we are living we can impact people for Christ.

God has been working big time on me at the moment with dealing with unresolved bitterness and criticalness and anger. The only thing that has cured me of these evils - (because they are like a cancerous disease that destroys any big of fruit we have)...is allowing God to deal with it. Let go of all the hurts by people, churches, family members who didn't help when I needed it. Life is all about hurts, people will always let us down. It is how we react to these. It is only through leaning completely upon Christ that it become water on a duck's back. We are living for the eternal and we don't have time to be bitter, we have lots and lots of work to do - spending time with the Lord in prayer, doing Bible study and being filled with the fruit of the Spirit, so that we can be effective witnesses to everyone we come into contact with.

Only the Lord can deal with the hurt, pain and bitterness. He comes in and breaks up the hardness and softens our hearts. I want to be vulnerable to Jesus, I want to have my heart softened to the things of the Spirit and I want to be free from the cancerous bitterness that destroys all the work & fruit of the Lord in my life.
I hope this encourages you. We will stand with you and pray for you.

All our love & thoughts through only Him,
Sherid

sermonindex Jun 18, 2011

I used to work with a girl with cerebral palsy who was in a motorized wheelchair, and I would often try to get her to come to church. But it was often a trial due to the motorized wheelchair, because it would not go in my car, and her parents would not always allow her to take the van. And public transportation did not run on sundays. And then there were things like some churches have "steps" and the list goes on. It is difficult.

Oh thank you for this input! Yes, these are more good examples of what it means to be disabled. And then imagine how much it hurts to have people judge you for not attending church when you are in a wheelchair like this. Not only that but imagine the time it takes to get a cripple or paraplegic up and showered and dressed in the morning to make a service.

sermonindex Jun 18, 2011

All it takes is one person with a telephone to call all the Pastors in town to get their reaction to such an Organization in their own town and then call the Newspaper and say - this is the Name of the Town's Volunteer Help Group and if anyone wants to volunteer - contact _________ . The volunteers don't have to be Christian neither - but the Group should never except money.

This sounds like a good idea for small towns. However, where i live in an average size city we already have volunteer groups. I think at least two, and they have a hard enough time of their own in finding volunteers, so another church group would be competing for whats out there. We have a "Faith In Action" group but oh the beaurocracy and forms you have to sign! And it bothered me somewhat that it was ecumenical. There is also a United Way that looks for volunteers, and i think there may be others groups. I think people are just so consumed by so many things today they hardly have room for much more. People are either overcommitted or too tired?

You can get really good sermons through podcasts nowadays, if you have a good internet you can also belong to group church online - just look for the groups, or not be too stressed out if you don't make it to the exact church you are expecting to go to. God can minister to you wherever you are, He just wants your heart.

Oh, that is just what i do. Cyberchapel, so to speak. But that is not good enough for all the judgmental Pharisees out there, don't you know that? Just yesterday i had a pew-warmer judge and lecture me about not attending church and he never once listened to a word i said about why i am not able to. That is the attitude you get you know, when you can't go to church. I tried to teach the person that the true Church/body of Christ is NOT a physical place but a spiritual body of believers the world over. He did not listen. He also keeps his "Christianity" secret at his workplace, so i called him out on how he chastises me for not being able to go to a physical church yet he keeps his "faith" secret and fails to evangelize (which is just as much a commandment of scripture as to assemble with other believers). He did not like that, as you can well imagine.

sermonindex Jun 18, 2011

I was very discouraged and if I am honest actually angry at God for many years because I was not healed.

Thank you for your honesty Mrs.Carter. It is always so refreshing when Christians share their spiritual struggles in the midst of suffering. And yes, what you experienced with the Health & Wealth, Name It and Claim It group is typical and expected. Their misuse of scripture really is abominable.